Fabric for the manufacture of rainproof garments



April 1949- E. E. RAYMOND 2,466,911

FABRIC FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF RAINPROOF GARMENTS Filed Jan. 3, 1947 garments of such fabrics.

; mag A... 12,1949

FABRIC FOR THE MANUFACTURED! RAINPROOF GARMENTS Edwin E. Raymond, Racine, Wis. Application January 3, 1941, Serial No. 720,060

Claims. (01. 154-46) This invention. relates to improvements in fabrics for the manufacture of rainproof garmerits and the like and more particularly to vrial such as synthetic rubbers (neoprene and Buna N).

The desirabl use of plastic and rubberlike material as a fabric for the manufacture of rainproof garments and rainproof coverings has long been apparent. The qualities possessed by these materials, impermeableness and absence of capillary attraction qualifies them particularly for such use and repeated attempts have been and still are being made to manufacture satisfactory However, while such garments are now being made there has not been a general public acceptance. Being impervious to air such garments confine body heat and cause discomfort to the wearer. This is especially true in the case of heavy duty garments which are worn for extended periods.

It is an object of the present invention to pro.- vide a fabric for the manufacture of rainproof garments and the like which avoids this and other undesirable features and which can be mad into garments that are comfortable and good looking.

It is a further important object to provide a fabric of plastic or rubberlike material which is practically rainproof and will permit the free passage of air.

It is further the object of this invention to provide a rainproof garment composed of a fabric of plastic or rubberlike material'which is cool and comfortable, yet rainproof.

Numerous other objects and advantages will b apparent throughout the progress of the following specification.

The accompanying drawing illustrates selected embodiments of the invention and the views therein are as follows:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a raincoat as worn, partly broken away and magnified to show fabric composition,

Fig. 2 is a face view of a two sheeted fabric, greatly enlarged, with one sheet partly broken away.

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2. i

Fig. 4 is an enlarged face view of a modified two sheet fabric with one sheet partly broken away.

The fabric herein shown for the purpose of I0 and II.

illustrating the present invention comprises a pair of sheets III and I I composed of plastic or rubberlike materials and of any desired size and thickness. The sheet II! is provided with perforations I2 which are definitely grouped in zones as shown at I3. The sheet I I is also provided with perforations I l which are similarly grouped in zones as shown at IS. The size of the perforations I2 and 'II is a matter of importance as will hereinafter be explained.

The sheets I0 and I I are superposed to bear at areas whereby the zones I3 and I5 are out of register with each other as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and are disks I6 in a manner as to leave air space H between the two sheets. The disks I6 may be of any desired shape and of like material as sheets Plastic cement, dielectric heat or other well known means may be used to secure the disks to the material.

The complete structure constitutes a fabric which is practically rainproof yet will permit air to. pass therethrough and may be fashioned into a rainproof garment wherein body heat is dissipated and which may be worn in comfort for extended periods.

Care must be exercised in making the perforations I2 and II. It is preferred to make the perforations almost microscopic in size and approximately to the square inch. These ordinarily cannot be seen by the naked eye and the appearance of the fabric is not affected as illustrated by the raincoat in Fig. 1.

In use, discrete droplets of water may pass through the minute perforations I2 of the upper sheet I0 but will impinge upon the impermeable portions of the lower sheet II, and either run down the air space H between the sheets or will evaporate without passing through the perforations I4 of the lower sheet II. The perforations will, however, permit the passage of air.

It has been found that so little water will pass through th minute perforations of the upper sheet as to permit the employment of another embodiment of the invention as illustrated in Figure 4. The upper sheet I8 is composed of resilient plastic or rubberlike material having perforations l9 grouped in zones 20. The lower sheet 2| may be of any desired woven material treated in any well known manner with any well known water repellent material. The sheets are secured together as previously described by disks 22. In the modified embodiment it has been found that any discrete droplets of water which may pass through perforations l9- will evaporate before secured together in such position by 3 penetrating or passing through the lower sheet 12. The free passage of air, however, is unimpeded.

The fabric as described may be employed for any purposes where rainproof qualities are desired but will, of course, find greatest use in the manufacture of garments and the like. It is inert-- pensive to manufacture and pleasing in appearance and is in effect a "breathing plastic fabric.

Changes may be made in the form and con'- struction without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages and the right is hereby reserved to make all changes as fairly fall within th scope of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired tobe secured by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:

'1. A multiple ply fabric comprising a plurality of impermeable sheets with spaced zones of perforations, said sheets being secured in spaced relationship and with the perforations of the sheets out of register with each other.

2. A multiple ply fabric comprising a plurality of impermeable sheets of predetermined thickness having predetermined zones of physical perforations. said sheets being secured to each other in spaced relationship and with the zones of perforations out of register with each other.

3. A gas-permeable duplex fabric comprising two impermeable sheets of predetermined thiclr- Number to prevent complete passage of impinging liquid through the duplex fabric.

5. A gas-permeable duplex fabric comprising a pair of impermeable sheets of predetermined thickness provided with spaced horizontal zones of perforations to permit the passage of gas therethrough, said sheets being superposed and secured to each other in spaced relationship and with the zones of perforations sufliciently out of register with each other to preventcomplete passage of impinging liquid through the duplex fabric.

EDWIN E. RAYMOND.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date 446,943 Great Britain May 8, 1936 

